Our hotels were praised for their extensive efforts to enhance the visitor experience while reducing their impact on the environment.

“As the assessor for the group I was impressed by the overall commitment to the environment and the Green Tourism Business Scheme,” said GTBS senior grading assessor Stuart Brain. “Since their entry to the scheme the management and staff have worked hard to improve the environmental performance of each hotel.

“The group supports local environmental and social initiatives. On site each hotel has undertaken significant measures to reduce water and energy consumption as well as using fair trade products they are also committed to using local suppliers where ever possible. Overall, a strong performance from a forward-thinking group with the potential to become leaders in British sustainable tourism.”

Staff training initiatives were also highly commended along with the hotels’ willingness to ‘give something back’ by supporting a variety of environmental and social projects.

English Lakes Hotels Resorts & Venues were praised for their commitment to using local food and produce. The Wild Boar Inn Grill & Smokehouse being singled out for their concentration on local meat, vegetables and beer together with an on-site purpose-built smokery.

Nevil Jeffrey, Manager of Low Wood Bay, who co-ordinated the hotels’ entries into the awards said:

At all units within English Lakes we have a dedicated Green Champion Club

‘We are very pleased with the results of the accreditation. Each of our hotels has worked incredibly hard to ensure that we are as environmentally and energy efficient as possible.

“The awards acknowledge the hard work of all of our staff and the commitment of our guests to greener tourism also. We will continue to work hard to make further improvements and ensure our impact on the environment is as small as possible.”

Waterhead, in Ambleside, was praised by the assessor for its use of local food ensuring “guests get a taste of the Lakes”. The Midland, in Morecambe, was praised for its staff being well informed and trained in sustainability, and Storrs Hall, in Windermere, was also praised for its reduction of waste in energy and water, as well as having an extensive vegetarian menu.

The English Lakes Group was given an overall Silver Award and was lauded for the enthusiam and strong management within the company, its reduction of waste, giving back to social and environmental projects – such as more than £100,000 to Nurture Lakeland – replacing water bottles with water coolers, good recycling and the use of some LED lighting, among other initiatives.